The laundry is the smallest wet area in most homes and also the one people budget for the least. That is a mistake. A laundry renovation packs plumbing, waterproofing, joinery, tiling and often electrical work into a couple of square metres, and the trade cost per square metre can end up higher than the kitchen next door. Here is what we see it actually cost on the Gold Coast in 2026.
A laundry renovation on the Gold Coast typically costs between $8,000 and $25,000, depending on whether it is a cabinetry and benchtop refresh or a full strip-out with new plumbing, waterproofing and tiling. Combining the laundry with an adjoining bathroom changes the numbers again and is usually quoted on scope. Most laundries take 1 to 2 weeks on site.
Typical Gold Coast laundry renovation costs in 2026
| Scope | Typical cost | What it usually includes |
|---|---|---|
| Basic refresh | $5,000 to $12,000 | New cabinetry and benchtop in the existing footprint, tapware swap, no waterproofing or plumbing relocation |
| Mid-range renovation | $12,000 to $18,000 | New cabinetry, benchtop, tiling, some plumbing changes, fresh waterproofing to code |
| Full custom laundry | $18,000 to $30,000 | Complete strip-out, plumbing relocation, full waterproofing, tiled floor and walls, custom joinery and integrated storage |
These ranges line up with what other Gold Coast renovation businesses are publishing for 2026, with basic to premium laundry tiers sitting inside the $5,000 to $30,000 band depending on scope.
Why a small room costs more per square metre than you'd expect
A laundry is rarely bigger than 3 to 5 square metres, yet it usually carries a tap, a trough, a washing machine outlet, drainage, waterproofing and often an exhaust fan, all within that footprint. None of those trades charge less because the room is small. A plumber's callout and rough-in cost is much the same whether they are fitting one tap or four, which is why the cost per square metre in a laundry can rival or exceed a much larger living space renovation.
Waterproofing is not optional
Laundries are a wet area under the Building Code of Australia and need to be waterproofed to comply, particularly around the trough, washing machine outlet and any tiled floor. Skipping or cutting corners on waterproofing is one of the most expensive mistakes to fix later, since it usually means pulling up tiles and cabinetry to get to the membrane. Ask any quote to spell out the waterproofing system and who is certifying it.
Plumbing relocation changes the number quickly
Keeping the trough, tap and washing machine outlet in their existing positions keeps costs down. Moving them, even by a metre, means new pipework under the slab or through a wall cavity, and that single decision can add several thousand dollars to an otherwise modest renovation.
Joinery is where the finish comes from
In such a small room, cabinetry does more visual work than in almost any other space in the house. Overhead cupboards, a broom cupboard, pull-out hamper storage and a benchtop that can take a hot iron all turn a utility room into something that actually functions well every day. Custom joinery costs more than a flat-pack alternative but it is also where a laundry renovation earns its keep, since the room's whole job is storage and workflow.
- Overhead cabinetry above the machines for detergent and cleaning supplies
- A benchtop over the machines for folding, ideally in a stone or laminate that copes with moisture
- A dedicated hamper or laundry chute if the layout allows it
- A broom cupboard, since laundries are usually where the vacuum and mop end up living
- A drying rail or fold-down rack if there is no separate drying area
Combined bathroom-laundry layouts
Older Gold Coast homes, particularly units and smaller Queenslanders, often have the laundry combined with a second bathroom or built into a narrow hallway nook. Combining or separating these spaces during a renovation is a layout decision as much as a cosmetic one, and it usually needs to be quoted individually because the plumbing and waterproofing scope varies so much from house to house.
If you are renovating a laundry and bathroom in the same project, sharing a wall means the plumber can often rough in both at once. That coordination saves money that gets lost if the two rooms are renovated separately, months apart.
What a laundry renovation looks like on site
- Design and fixed-price quote, including cabinetry measurements and tapware selections.
- Demolition of existing cabinetry, tiling and any fixtures being replaced.
- Plumbing rough-in, including any relocated trough, tap or washing machine outlet.
- Waterproofing to the floor and any tiled walls, then inspection before tiling begins.
- Tiling, then cabinetry installation and benchtop fit.
- Tapware, exhaust fan and electrical fit-off, then handover.
What a complete laundry quote should include
- Demolition and waste removal
- Named waterproofing system and who certifies it
- Plumbing scope, including whether any fixtures are being relocated
- Cabinetry specification, carcass material and hardware
- Benchtop material and edge profile
- Tiling to floor and any splashback or wall areas
- Exhaust fan and electrical work if part of the scope
If you are renovating the laundry alongside other rooms, our guide to hidden costs in a renovation budget is worth reading before you finalise a total spend across the project.
Planning a laundry renovation on the Gold Coast or in Logan? We handle the plumbing, waterproofing and joinery as one coordinated job and give you a fixed price up front.
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